While most people might automatically assume some of the fastest cars ever made are from Europe or Japan, that simply isn't the case because you've got some pretty serious speed machines conceived right here in America. This list is comprised of cars from both mainstream automakers and boutique manufacturers who produce just a handful of super-exotics per year.

Our list of the fastest American cars was already pretty comprehensive, but we've beefed it up with five more models, including some super fast 200 mph sedans and a hypercar made from 3D printed components. We've also included a 1970s classic with a claimed top speed of 242 mph. Find out which models they are below.

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In order to give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from various manufacturer websites and other authoritative sources, including TopGear, Automobile Catalog, and Ultimate Specs. Models in this list are ranked based on top speed, arranged from the slowest to the fastest model.

Updated December 16, 2023: There is no shortage of fast American cars, which is why we added a few more to the list. We also replaced the C8 Corvette Stingray with its more powerful version, the C8 Z06, as it is, currently, the fastest version of the mid-engine Corvette.

20 Vector M12

Top Speed: 190 MPH

Black Vector M12
Greg Gjerdingen via Wikimedia Commons

Vector is one of those obscure brands that never quite made it. The car company is mostly known for the Vector W3, which we mentioned above. The company went bankrupt in the 1990s, but before that happened, it managed to churn out a second mode – the M12. Despite the unusual styling and very 1990s, three-spoke alloy wheels, the Vector had all the right ingredients. It was built in the US, but the chassis was designed by people from Lotus.

Vector M12 Specifications

Engine/Powertrain:

5.7-Liter V-12

Horsepower:

492 HP

Torque:

425 lb.-ft.

0-60 mph:

4.8 Seconds

Top Speed:

190 mph

(Performance specs sourced from Automobile Catalog and Ultimatespecs)

The engine was the most interesting aspect. Instead of a tried-and-tested, American V-8 like the W3, the M12 relied on a V-12 borrowed from the Lamborghini Diablo. The Vector M12’s biggest problem was the extremely poor build quality, which could explain why only 17 cars were built between 1995 and 1999.

19 Chevrolet C8 Corvette Z06

Top Speed: 196 mph

2023 Chevrolet C8 Corvette Z06
Chevrolet 

The C8 Chevrolet Corvette is an automotive blue-collar hero. With the C8 generation switching from a front-engine configuration, the Corvette is a seriously athletic mid-engine supercar that can challenge sports cars from around the world and charge to nearly 200 mph while ringing it at under $100,000. What makes the C8 Corvette interesting is there are sportier models offered, like the Z06 and the hybrid, all-wheel drive E-Ray that recently debuted.

Chevrolet Corvette C8 Z06 Specifications

Engine/Powertrain:

5.5-Liter V-8

Horsepower:

670 HP

Torque:

460 lb.-ft.

0-60 mph:

2.6 seconds

Top Speed:

196 mph

(Performance specs sourced from Chevrolet)

While the base, Stingray is impressive, the Z06 takes it to new performance heights, with the first-ever, GM V-8 with a flat-plane crankshaft, and it screams to 8,600 RPM. While the C8 Stingray is, arguably, a bigger bargain, the C8 Z06 is a straight challenge to European exotic carmakers. The C8 Corvette Z06 body features a more aggressive aero, generating more downforce. This slows it down, but it still manages a 196 mph top speed, which is a hair faster than the C8 Stingray.

18 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing

Top Speed: 200 MPH

Front 3/4 shot of the 2022 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing
Cadillac

CT5-V Blackwing may not be the Cadillac’s biggest sports-luxury sedan, but it is the most performance-infused. The lineup of GM’s luxury arm has long switched from lofty, luxury barges to luxurious canyon carvers with fire-breathing V-8 engines. The CT5-V Blackwing is, currently, the most high-performance model from Cadillac, and we are glad to see it still relies on a supercharged pushrod V-8. The LT4 engine is the same one you find in the C7 Corvette Z06 and it’s also the basis for the C7 ZR-1’s LT5.

Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing Specifications

Engine/Powertrain:

6.2-Liter SuperchargedV-8

Horsepower:

668 HP (claimed)

Torque:

658 lb.-ft.

0-60 mph:

3.4 Seconds

Top Speed:

200 mph

(Performance specs sourced from Cadillac)

Even more bonkers is the fact you can get the CT5-V Blackwing with a manual, although the automatic is slightly quicker to 60 mph. The revised GM Alpha II platform and MagneRide suspension make the mid-size luxury sedan one of the most athletic models in the segment, allowing it to match supercars not just on the straights, but also in the corners.

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17 Dodge Charger Daytona

Top Speed: 200 MPH

Root Beer 1969 Dodge Charger Daytona
Mecum

Classic Muscle cars are, generally, known for slaying the drag strip, especially when fitted with shorter gearing that prioritized 0 to 60 mph times instead of top speed. Some of these Muscle cars, however, were homologation specials for various racing series, including NASCAR. The Dodge Charger Daytona was one such car and thanks to its aero-body, it is extremely aerodynamic even by today’s standards, with a drag coefficient of 0.28.

Dodge Charger Daytona Specifications

Engine/Powertrain:

7.0-Liter V-8

Horsepower:

425 HP (claimed)

Torque:

490 lb.-ft.

0-60 mph:

5.2 Seconds

Top Speed:

200 mph

(Performance specs sourced from Automobile Catalog and Ultimatespecs)

While it shared the B-Body platform and overall esthetics with the more mass-produced Dodge Charger, the Daytona’s stood out with a cone-nose and a gigantic rear wing. Despite, essentially, being a race car, it was a road-going model. The Charger Daytona was only produced in 1969 and just 503 examples were built. Of those, only 70 came with the 426 Hemi V-8, which was needed for the dash to 200 mph.

16 Cadillac CT6-V

Top Speed: 200 mph

Cadillac CT6-V gray
Cadillac 

Cadillac’s V Series models have produced a score of Mercedes-AMG and BMW M-rivaling models over the past 20 years that combine a luxurious cabin with serious outright speed. And the fastest of the bunch is also the biggest — the CT6-V. More specifically, the CT6-V with GM’s Blackwing V-8, a 550-horsepower, twin-turbocharged unit that could scoot the sizeable sedan from 0-60 mph in 3.8 seconds and on to a claimed top speed of 200 mph. The Blackwing was the ultimate expression of the CT6-V with its dual, twin-scroll turbos with four camshafts and a max boost of 20 psi.

Cadillac CT6-V Specifications

Engine/Powertrain:

4.2-Liter V-8

Horsepower:

550 HP

Torque:

640 lb .ft

0-60 mph:

3.8 seconds

Top Speed:

200 mph

(Performance specs sourced from Cadillac)

Though the CT6-V Blackwing delivered seriously impressive specs and performance from a luxury sedan, the model had a short run despite quickly selling out in 2019. It was discontinued in 2020, but the Blackwing legacy lives on the CT5-V, which can also crack a claimed top speed of 200 mph.

15 Mosler MT900S Photon

Top Speed: 201 MPH

Mosler_MT900s
 via flickr

Another fast American car from a now-defunct car company is the all-but-forgotten, Mosler MT900S. An evolution of the early, MT900, the S model swapped the 5.7-liter, LS1 V-8 for the C6 Z06’s LS7 unit. This resulted in almost double the power, in a car that was already, extremely lightweight – 2,539 pounds). The mid-engine American supercar resembled a Saleen S7, but underneath, both cars featured different mechanicals. The MT900S was even lighter, especially if you ordered the Photon package, which resulted in the MT900S weighing just 1,980 pounds.

Mosler MT900S Specifications

Engine/Powertrain:

7.0-Liter V-8

Horsepower:

550HP

Torque:

513 lb.-ft.

0-60 mph:

3.1 Seconds

Top Speed:

201 mph

(Performance specs sourced from Automobile Catalog and Ultimatespecs)

The mid-engine Mosler was a serious track weapon, and it sent its power to the rear, through a Porsche ZF transaxle. Aside from the insane power-to-weight ratio of 668 horsepower per ton, the Mosler MT900S featured a low drag coefficient of 0.25. Out of the 85 cars made, just 35 were road-going variants, of which just 20 were the more powerful MT900S.

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14 Dodge Charger Hellcat Redeye Widebody

Top Speed: 203 mph

White Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Redeye
Dodge/Stellantis

Over the years we’ve seen plenty of cars that have ambitious speedometers, but the Dodge Charger Hellcat’s 220-mph speedo isn’t wishful thinking as this hunk of American muscle tops out at 203 mph. Unlike many of the cars on this list, the Charger Hellcat isn’t built purely for speed.

With four doors, seating for up to five, and a spacious trunk, you can take a whole brood of passengers beyond 200 mph. The Charger’s eyebrow-raising top speed is courtesy of its 6.2-liter V-8 Hellcat engine. In standard Hellcat models, it pushed out 717 horsepower, but the tweaked version in the Redeye ups the ante to 797 horsepower and 707 pound-feet of torque.

Dodge Charger Hellcat Redeye Widebody Specifications

Engine/Powertrain:

6.2-liter V-8

Horsepower:

797 HP

Torque:

707 lb.-ft.

0-60 mph:

3.8 seconds

Top Speed:

203 mph

(Performance specs sourced from Automobile Catalog and Stellantis)

The Hellcat Redeye will scorch the pavement and roar from 0-60 mph in 3.8 seconds and past the quarter-mile mark at 11.9 seconds at 124 mph as it chases its top speed. In addition to its unique standing on this list as a 200-mph car that could double as a family sedan, the Hellcat Redeye is certainly among the most economical of the bunch, showing you don’t have to spend six figures for 200-mph speed. The 2023 Hellcat Redeye Widebody starts at just under $90,000.

13 Dodge Viper ACR

Top Speed: 206 mph

2017 Dodge Viper ACR silver
Dodge 

One of Dodge's most influential cars of all time was the Viper. The car initially debuted over three decades ago and it quickly gained a bit of a reputation for being one helluva of a car to drive. Why? It was thanks in part to that V-10 monster of an engine which I'll get to in a bit. The Viper was in production for over five generations, until production finally ended in 2017.

The ACR version, which stood for American Club Racing by far was the most extreme form of Viper that you could get. The ACR package first appeared on the second-gen Viper back in 1999 and it was mainly about the additional aero bits.

Dodge Viper ACR Specifications

Engine/Powertrain:

8.4-liter V-10

Horsepower:

645 HP

Torque:

600 lb-ft

0-60 mph:

3.0 sec

Top Speed:

206 mph

(Performance specs sourced from Automobile Catalog and Dodge/ SRT)

The Final ACR hit the road in 2015 on the gen-five (VX) Viper and was essentially a racing car for the road. Dodge claims that the aero package produced the highest downforce of any production car, i.e. close to one ton at 177 mph.

Its mammoth 8.4-liter naturally aspirated V-10 engine was good for 645 horsepower and it hit 60 mph in just 3.0 seconds. The Viper ACR can hit a top speed of 206 mph. All this through a manual transmission and in a car that weighed the same as a Golf GTI. The Viper will remain as one of the all-time greats and the ACR was its most extreme incarnation.

12 Dodge Demon

Top Speed: 211 mph

2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon
Dodge 

We can't talk fastest American cars and not bring up muscle cars now, can we? Before all these mid-engined American exotics came along, thorough-bred American muscle cars were not just the fastest cars Stateside, but some of the fastest in the world. Let's talk Demon. The Demon name itself dates back to the early 70s when it was used on the Dodge Dart. Today's SRT Demon is essentially a Drag Racer for the road.

It is the most extreme Dodge Challenger that money can buy today. Under the hood lies a 6.2-liter supercharged HEMI that puts out 840 ponies. With the right settings, the Demon is capable of 0-60 in 2.1 seconds topping out at 211 mph, and, did I mention this thing getting some air while launching? From the factory, Dodge offers what is called the Demon Crate.

Dodge Demon Specifications

Engine/Powertrain:

6.2-superchargedcarged HEMI V-8

Horsepower:

840 HP

Torque:

770 lb-ft

0-60 mph:

2.3 sec

Top Speed:

211 mph

(Performance specs sourced from Automobile Catalog and Stellantis)

It comprises all the things that you'd need to annihilate the competition at your local drag strip. This car is all about 1/4 mile times, and it comes as no surprise that it comes with barely street-legal drag slicks, designed specifically for the Demon. Having said that with a 9.65-second 1/4 mile time, the Demon can take part in NHRA Drag races as any car with a sub-10 second time requires a roll cage.

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11 Chevrolet Corvette C7 ZR1

Top Speed: 212 mph

A driving Chevrolet Corvette C7 ZR1
Chevrolet 

This is a Vette that you don't want to mess with. The ZR1 nameplate is reserved for the Ultimate Corvette that money can buy and the C7 ZR1 is the ultimate Corvette in history. Chevy first used the ZR1 moniker on the C3 Vette back in the 70s, and since then, it has appeared on all generations except the C5.

Coming to the engine, the C7 ZR1 features a 6.2-liter supercharged LT5 V-8 that puts out 755 horsepower and 715 pound-feet of torque. The ZR1 takes the already potent Z06 and turns it up a notch. The Aero package is made up of the splitter, a rear wing ad, and an underbody spoiler developed in collaboration with Pratt and Miller's racing team. The result? 0-60 in is decimated in 2.8 seconds and the top speed is rated at 212 mph.

Chevrolet Corvette C7 ZR-1 Specifications

Engine/Powertrain:

6.2-liter V-8

Horsepower:

755 HP

Torque:

715 lb-ft

0-60 mph:

2.8 sec

Top Speed:

212 mph

(Performance specs sourced from Automobile Catalog and Ultimatespecs)

To give you some context about how big a deal these numbers are the C7 Chevy Corvette ZR1 has more power than most Aventadors is faster than a Ferrari 812 Superfast and has more than twice the torque of a Lexus LFA. But, that's not all, Chevy will do you one better. The optional ZTK Performance package for the ZR1 adds a higher fixed rear wing that generates 60 percent downforce as compared to the Z06 with the Z07 package. 2019 was the final model year of the C7 ZR1 Vette.

10 Ford GT

Top Speed: 216 mph

White Ford GT
Ford

The Ford GT is one of the most iconic model names in automotive history. The OG GT40s, of course, became world-famous for giving Ferrari a run for its money at Le Mans back in the mid-to-late '60s. Now, nearly six decades on the GT name lives on. While the first-gen GT hit the road back in the mid-2000s and features a V-8, the current model for the first time features a V-6. Not just any V-6, but a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V-6 that produces 647 horsepower. The top speed is rated at 216 mph with all that power channeled to the rear wheels.

Ford GT Specifications

Engine/Powertrain:

3.5-liter twin-turbo V-6

Horsepower:

647 HP

Torque:

550 lb-ft

0-60 mph:

3.2 sec

Top Speed:

216 mph

(Performance specs sourced from Automobile Catalog and Ford)

Back in 2016, Ford Performance along with Chip Ganassi Racing took the GT LM GTE-Pro back to Le Mans and managed to take an emotional victory celebrating 50 years of Ford's first-ever win in the 24-hour endurance race. Coming back to the road-going car, production began in 2016 and around 1,350 units have been planned in total.

9 Chevrolet Camaro Exorcist

Top Speed: 217 MPH

black 2018 Hennessey Camaro Exorcist
Hennessey Performance

(Performance specs sourced from Hennessey Performance)

The sixth-generation Chevrolet Camaro is a capable package in any form. Thanks to the GM Alpha platform, the Camaro, more or less, became a sports car rather than a pony/ Muscle car, allowing it to match the European and Japanese offerings in the segment, not just in straight-line performance, but also put down comparable lap times around a technical circuit. The Camaro ZL-1 is the ultimate expression of that as it was meant to be a road-legal track weapon. While the standard ZL-1 could do 200 mph, Chevrolet wanted an answer to the Dodge Demon.

Chevrolet Camaro Exorcist Specifications

Engine/Powertrain:

6.2-Liter Supercharged V-8

Horsepower:

1,000 HP

Torque:

966 lb.-ft.

0-60 mph:

2.1 Seconds

Top Speed:

217 mph

(Performance specs sourced from Automobile Catalog and Ultimatespecs)

They gave the ZL-1 to Hennessey Performance and the Camaro Exorcist was born. While chassis enhancements were made, the tuner’s main focus was to breathe fire into the supercharged V-8, resulting in 1,000 horsepower and a serious appetite for rear tires. In 2018, Hennessey Performance did a top-speed run, with a verified result of 217 mph.

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8 SCG 003S

Top Speed: 230 mph

2017  SCG003S
SCG 

The SCG 003, codenamed P33 is a limited run-supercar that was first announced by the boutique automaker back in 2013. Designed by Paolo Garella, the production version of the road-going racer first broke cover at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show. The firm chose to produce three variants, the Competizione, the Competizione Stradale, and the Stradale.

The firm had previously developed and raced cars at places like Le Mans and the Nürburgring. The Stradale was essentially the road-going version and was by far the most forgiving of the three variants. However, that wasn't to say that it was forgiving in any way. Its BMW-sourced 4.4-liter twin-turbo S63 V-8 put north of 800 horsepower, enough to take the 2866 pounds, SCG 003 to some serious speeds. How fast? Well, speeds over 230 mph.

SCG 003S Specifications

Engine/Powertrain:

4.4-liter twin-turbo V-8

Horsepower:

800 HP

Torque:

627 lb-ft

0-60 mph:

3.0 sec

Top Speed:

230 mph

(Performance specs sourced from Automobile Catalog and Ultimatespecs)

The most extreme car of the bunch has to be the Competizione Stradale. While this car is street-legal, it is essentially a track weapon with license plates attached to it. The car features a beefier rear wing and a stripped-down cockpit. The SCG 003 is hand-built in a quaint little town up in Hollow, New York.

7 Vector W8

Top Speed: 242 mph (Claimed)

Many of the cars featured on this list are from boutique manufacturers who only produce models in seriously strict numbers, but perhaps the most unique, and relatively obscure, model of them all is the Vector W8. Vector was founded in 1971 in California, and its W8 prototype gained plenty of attention for its first model, the W2, in the 1970s.

In 1989, the company debuted the W8, powered by a massive 6.0-liter, twin-turbo V-8 that cranked out 625 horsepower at a time in which the Ferrari F40 was still boggling the minds of automotive enthusiasts with 471 horsepower, and the McLaren F1 was still years away from rolling off assembly lines.

Vector W8 Specifications

Engine/Powertrain:

6.0-Liter V-8

Horsepower:

625 HP

Torque:

649 lb.-ft.

0-60 mph:

4.2 Seconds

Top Speed:

242 mph (claimed)

(Performance specs sourced from Automobile Catalog and Ultimatespecs)

Vector claimed that by upping boost pressure, the W8 could actually achieve 1,200 horsepower, and thus it could max out at 242 mph and could run from 0-60 mph in just 3.9 seconds. However, part of the reason the W8 is often forgotten is these figures were never confirmed independently, and Vector and its supercar proved to be an automotive flop with just 17 examples sold.

6 Saleen S7

Top Speed: 248 mph (Est)

Saleen-S7
Saleen 

The Saleen S7 was America's answer to the McLaren F1. It came to fruition around the turn of the century. The firm based out of California is, of course, most well-known for being a tuner of Ford Mustangs, but in the early 2000s, it decided to build its mid-engined supercar to take on all those highspeed exotics from Europe and Japan. The S7 with its aggressive styling and mid-engined layout was essentially a racecar for the road. It was developed by Steve Saleen, Phil Frank, and Ray Mallock Limited.

Saleen S7 Specifications

Engine/Powertrain:

7.0-liter twin-turbo V-8

Horsepower:

750 HP

Torque:

700 lb-ft

0-60 mph:

2.7 sec

Top Speed:

248 mph

(Performance specs sourced from Automobile Catalog and Ultimatespecs)

The body was made completely out of carbon fiber and the S7 weighed just 2,865 pounds. The car featured a modified 7.0-liter Ford V-8 engine that put out 550 horsepower. If that wasn't enough, Saleen turned up the heat with a twin-turbo version in 2005 that made 750 horsepower. The S7 is rated at an estimated top speed of 218 mph. The supercar was made in a limited number with just 100 examples in existence. This includes cars that were primarily designed for the racetrack.

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5 Czinger 21C V Max

Top Speed: 253 mph (Claimed)

Czinger 21C
Czinger

Made by California-based Czinger, the 21C V Max holds the claimed distinction of being the first Human/AI-designed and 3D-printed hypercar, and its wild, sleek looks fit that distinction. But perhaps even more impressive, the 21C V Max’s low-drag shape, which foregoes much of the downforce-creating elements of the standard 21C to achieve its top speed, and powerful hybrid V-8 allows it to reach an incredible, manufacturer-claimed top speed of 253 mph. Its hybrid powertrain is highlighted by a 2.88-liter, twin-turbo V-8 with a hybrid system to max out at 1,350 horsepower.

Czinger 21C V Max Specifications

Engine/Powertrain:

Hybrid 2.88-liter V-8

Horsepower:

1,350 HP

Torque:

849 lb.-ft.

0-60 mph:

1.9 seconds

Top Speed:

253 mph (EST)

(Performance specs sourced from Czinger and Ultimatespecs)

The standard model only puts out 1,250 ponies. With a weight of just over 2,700 pounds, the single-seat hypercar produces incredible figures on top of its top speed. It will zip from 0-63 mph in just 1.9 seconds, putting it on par with the fastest EV hypercars in the world, and Czinger claims it will charge from 0 to 248 mph and back to a stop in just 27.1 seconds.

4 SSC Ultimate Aero

Top Speed: 257.41 mph

SSC Ultimate Aero
SSC North America

Turning it back to SSC once again, the third car on the list is the predecessor to the Tuatara, the SSC Aero, more specifically the Ultimate Aero. The Aero had a production run that was the better part of a decade from 2004 to 2013 and the Ultimate Aero was the car that was the car that went for the speed run.

The hypercar made its international debut back in 2006. At the heart of the Ultimate Aero TT lies a 6.4-liter twin-turbo SSC V-8 engine that delivers 1,287 horsepower. The ultimate version had trick aero over the standard model including carbon-fiber louvers on the side intakes, and an active rear spoiler, which was quite advanced for its time.

SSC Ultimate Aero Specifications

Engine/Powertrain:

6.4-liter twin-turbo V-8

Horsepower:

1183 HP

Torque:

1094 lb-ft

0-60 mph:

2.7 sec

Top Speed:

257 mph

(Performance specs sourced from Automobile Catalog and Shelby Super Cars)

This RWD monster could hit speeds over 250 mph as early as 2007. The same year the Ultimate Aero went for a series of high-speed passes, on a closed stretch of highway up in Washington state averaging 255.83 mph, hence helping it eclipse Bugatti's 253 mph back then. The SSC Ultimate Aero held this title until Bugatti came along with the Veyron Super Sport in 2010.

3 Hennessey Venom GT

Top Speed: 270.49 mph

Yellow Hennessey Venom GT
Hennessey

The Venom GT, just like the Tuatara, was also designed to be the fastest production car in the world, designed to take on the mighty Bugatti Veyron. The Venom GT is the brainchild of John Hennessey of Hennessey Performance Engineering based in Sealy, Texas.

The tuner is renowned for turning up the heat performance on a range of vehicles, with everything ranging from trucks and SUVs to sports cars. But, about a decade ago, it decided to have a go at the world record for the fastest production car. The Texan tuner created a stir when it showcased a Lotus Elise-based supercar at the 2012 Goodwood Festival of Speed.

Hennessey Venom GT Specifications

Engine/Powertrain:

7.0-liter twin-turbo V-8

Horsepower:

1244 HP

Torque:

1115 lb-ft

0-60 mph:

2.7 sec

Top Speed:

270 mph

(Performance specs sourced from Automobile Catalog and Hennessey Performance)

The Venom GT features a 7.0-liter twin-turbo V-8 engine that puts out 1244 horsepower, with power going to the rear wheels. In May 2014, Hennessey Performance pushed the Venom GT to V-max and managed to top out at a cool 270.49 mph, also done at the Kennedy Space Center.

Now, although that was a number that was higher than the Veyron SuperSport, to claim the title of World's Fastest Production Car, 30 production cars and two back-to-back runs were needed, but Hennessey couldn't care less. Do keep in mind that Hennessy never really had the kind of resources that Bugatti had under the VW umbrella.

3:05
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2 SSC Tuatara

Top Speed: 295 mph

SSC Tuatara
SSC North America

Occupying the top spot in the list is the SSC Tuatara. A successor to the Ultimate Aero, the Tuatara first debuted as a concept car at the 2011 Concourse' D'elegance in Pebble Beach. It was conceived with one purpose - to reclaim the title of the Fastest car in the world from the Bugatti Veyron. Remember, this was 2011, and the Chiron didn't exist yet. The supercar was in development for the better part of a decade and the production model finally hit the road in 2018.

Its V-8 engine was developed by Tom Nelson of Nelson Racing Engines. The 5.9-liter twin-turbo V-8 features a flat-plane crank and puts out a whopping 1,750 horsepower on 91-octane gas. That is enough poke to propel the 2,749 pounds, rear-wheel-drive Tuatara that features an all-carbon construction to some serious speeds. SSC attempted a speed run back in October where the Tuatara hit an average speed of 316 mph.

SSC Tuatara Specifications

Engine/Powertrain:

5.9-liter twin-turbo V-8

Horsepower:

1750 HP

Torque:

1341 lb-ft

0-60 mph:

2.5 sec

Top Speed:

295 mph

(Performance specs sourced from Automobile Catalog and Shelby Super Cars)

However, the legitimacy of this run couldn't be verified. Consequently, Jerod Shelby himself came forward and said that they'd try again and a few months later, SSC went for it again, this time at the Florida Kennedy Space Center where the Tuatara clocked in an average speed of 282.9 mph, making it the fastest production car. The American automaker was not happy with this as it wanted to breach the 300-mph mark. While that didn't happen, SSC got a lot closer to it, this time touching 295 mph, and beating its record to become the world's fastest production car!

1 Hennessey Venom F5

Top Speed: 311 mph (Est)

2019 Hennessey Venom F5
Hennessey 

The Hennessey Venom F5 is the successor to the legendary Venom GT. While that car was built on the underpinnings of a Lotus Elise, the Venom F5 was developed in collaboration with Delta Motorsports of Silverstone, England. Initial mockups of the car were first shown at the SEMA show in November 2017. The mid-engined supercar features a 6.6-liter twin-turbo V-8 with a bespoke iron block that produces 1,817 horsepower. Power is sent to the rear wheels. With a body comprising of a complete carbon-fiber construction, the Venom weighs 2950 pounds.

Hennessey Venom F5 Specifications

Engine/Powertrain:

6.6-liter twin-turbo V-8

Horsepower:

1817 HP

Torque:

1193 lb-ft

0-60 mph:

2.6 sec

Top Speed:

311 mph

(Performance specs sourced from Automobile Catalog and Hennessey Performance)

It features active aero, which is a first for Hennessey. Now, with those kinds of numbers, Hennessey is looking to enter the 300 mph club. The Texas-based tuner claims a top speed of 311 mph, although for now, it hasn't gone beyond 271.6 mph. As with its predecessor, the F5 has been designed with one sole purpose, to be the fastest production car in the world. Production is limited to just 24 examples and customer deliveries are already underway.

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10 American Performance Cars With The Best Power To Weight Ratios
Massive amounts of horsepower is great, but it's the power-to-weight ratio that determines quickness and speed

Okay, I get that and there isn't a single EV on this list. They could have been included if I was looking at the quickest American cars. You'd have the usual suspects including the likes of the Model S Plaid, the Model X Plaid, the Lucid Air, and even the Rivian R1T. But if you're interested we have a list of the Fastest electric cars in the world.

As for gas-powered models, here is a list of some of the fastest American cars of all time.

Fastest American Cars

Model

Speed (mph)

Hennessey Venom F5

311 (EST)

SSC Tuatara

295

Hennessey Venom GT

270

Czinger C21 V Max

253

Vector W8

242 (EST)

Saleen S7

240 (EST)

SCG 003S

230

Ford GT

216

Chevrolet Corvette C7 ZR1

212

Dodge Demon

211

Dodge Viper ACR Extreme

208

Draco GTE

206

Dodge Viper SRT

206

Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye Widebody

203

Mosler MT900S

201

Cadillac CT6-V

200

Dodge Charger Hellcat

196

Chevrolet Corvette C8 Z06

196

Camaro ZL1 1LE

193

Vector M12

190

Rossion Q1

185

Chevrolet Corvette C7

185

Chevrolet Corvette C8 Z51

184

Ford Mustang GT500

180

FAQ

Q: What is the fastest street-legal car in America?

With a top speed of 295 mph, the SSC Tuatara is the fastest street-legal car in America as well as the fastest production car in the world.

Q: What is the fastest American Car 0-60 mph?

With a time of 1.98 seconds, the Tesla Model S Plaid is the fastest American car from 0-60 mph.

Q: What is the fastest American Muscle Car?

With a top speed of 211 mph, the Dodge Demon is the fastest American Muscle Car

Q: What is the fastest car made by Ford?

The 216-mph second-generation Ford GT is the fastest car made by Ford

Q: What is the fastest American car made in 2022?

The SSC Tuatara is the fastest car made in 2022

Q: What American-made Car has the most horsepower?

The Hennessey Venom F5 is the American made car with the most horsepower

Q: What is Chevy's fastest car?

With a top speed of 212 mph, The C7 Corvette ZR1 is Chevy's fastest car

Q: What is the 0-60 on a Dodge Demon

The 0-60 on a Dodge Demon is 2.1 seconds

Q: What is the fastest car Dodge ever made?

The Demon is the fastest car that Dodge ever made